Beginner guide to body language It's often said that actions speak louder than words and this

s rings especially t rue when it comes to body language. As a non-verbal form of communication, body language can be a powerful tool, as you can use it to put people at ease, make f riends, or even persuade people to do things for you. Being able to read body language can also allow you to detect things such attrac tion, truth, confidence and shyness. You can read body language by carefully watching the facial expressions, hand ge stures, posture, and other movements made by another person. All of us whether w e realise it or not use body language in our everyday lives. With this in mind, here the realbuzz.com team have selected a few common body language behaviours a nd gestures, and given the common interpretations of their possible meanings whi ch will help to make you fluent in the art of reading body language! Eye contact A failure to look someone in the eyes or rapidly shifting eye movements can ofte n be interpreted as trying to hide something or lying. It can also be a sign of shyness or lack of confidence. Smiling Smiling can demonstrate confidence, friendliness, and a positive attitude, and a lso gives the impression that youre someone that people would want to be around. On the other hand, a nervous or false smile can demonstrate the opposite. Attention span Often you can tell what a person is like by noticing their attention span. For e xample, if someone quickly loses focus and clearly is not listening then this ma kes them appear disinterested, bored, and possibly even uncaring whereas a longe r attention span is likely to indicate more interest. Head shaking or nodding Frequently, without realising they are doing it, people nod or shake their head to signal whether they are in agreement or not. You can give your approval to so meone just with a nod of the head, and your disapproval either by not nodding or by shaking your head. Touching Touching another person during social interaction, if done appropriately, can co nvey a strong message to them. For example, it can be used in a flirtatious mann er to show romantic interest, or can simply be a way of calming or reassuring so meone. Arms folded/legs crossed This can be seen as a defensive posture or can signal that the conversation is a t an end as far as that person is concerned. Sitting tightly folded up indicates that you are closed to communication, as your crossed limbs effectively form a physical barrier to keep other people away from you. Standing with hands on hips This demonstrates a readiness to act in a situation, or can even indicate aggres

sion. It is not the most welcoming of gestures and you may often see it displaye d by teenagers wishing to show their defiance. Handshakes You can tell a lot from a handshake. A firm handshake is usually given by a pers on who is confident of themselves, while a limp handshake is usually given by ne rvous, shy, or insecure people. Also, watch out for the hand crusher given by some one trying to intimidate you! Sitting with legs crossed/legs apart People frequently sit with their legs crossed, often with one or both feet kicki ng slightly, and this can be seen as a sign of boredom or impatience. Sitting in a position with your legs apart shows that youre more relaxed and open. Touching the nose Touching or rubbing your nose can often be seen as a sign of doubt or a signal t hat youre lying. Pinching the bridge of your nose, which youll often do with your eyes closed, can often be seen as a negative response to something you have just done for another person. Rubbing hands Were all familiar with the old rubbing the hands in anticipation thing. Its usually something that we tend to do when were awaiting the arrival of something that we are really looking forward to! Open palm

An open palm gesture is often one of sincerity, openness, or innocence. For exam ple, if you truthfully say It wasnt me or I havent done anything, youll probably als se an open palm gesture. Tapping fingers Tapping or drumming fingers on a surface such as a table or desk is a sure-fire way of letting someone know you are bored. It displays a degree of impatience in a given situation, and is often our way of telling someone else to get a move o n! Playing with hair Patting or fondling hair often indicates insecurity or a lack of self-confidence . Certainly, people who are nervous will frequently do it. Try watching an inter view with a young sportsperson who is new to being interviewed, and youll see wha t we mean. Tilted head When a person tilts their head to one side, its often because theyre interested in something. We probably most commonly notice it with dogs, which quite clearly t ilt their head when something takes their interest but we do it to a lesser degr ee too. Leaning forward When you lean forward either when youre sitting down or standing up you are indic ating that youre interested in something. In other words, an interested listener

leans toward the speaker. Conversely, leaning away is a clear sign of disinteres t. Biting nails Biting your nails is invariably an indication of nervousness or insecurity. Peop le often refer to nail-biting moments when watching sports matches or films in oth er words, moments that are very tense and cause viewers to be nervous. Pacing the floor Nervousness can also be displayed by someones inability to stay still. A person c an be up and down and pacing about, and many of us will interpret this as them b eing nervous or tense. For example, if you see someone waiting for an impending birth, dont be surprised to see them wearing out their shoe leather! Interpreting body language Although some behaviour and gestures have clear-cut meanings, reading peoples bod y language is not always an exact science because some actions can have multiple meanings. For example, if you fold your arms it doesnt necessarily mean you are being defensive you could just be physically cold! Our advice is not to get in to a habit of scrutinising your and everyone elses mo vements and gestures for hidden meaning. However, if a person uses several behav iours or gestures at the same time (such as biting their nails and pacing) that have the same common interpretation (nervousness), then this is a good indicator of how they are feeling at a given time.